Our Mission & Community

Thanks for stopping by! Our community is a diverse group of people, young and old asking the big questions about life and how to be human in the challenging world we all live in. Join us as we talk about those big questions at an upcoming event or Sunday worship.

Who We Are

Teacher, Nurse, Small Business Owner, Neighbor, Gardener, Student, Citizen, Younger at Heart, Greater in Age, Entrepreneur, Custodian, Technician, Mechanic, Mail Person

We are …

  • quirky like John the Baptist

  • small but mighty like David

  • authentic like Ruth

  • and we walk the walk like Jesus

Mission & Vision

Our Mission at Epworth is to live in to Mark 12:30-31 (NIV):

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and 

with all your soul and 

with all your mind and 

with all your strength.  

The second is this,

Love your neighbor as yourself. 

There is no commandment greater than these.  

As Epworth we vision to …

provide a safe space to nurture spirituality and Nourish Faith. 

strive to Do Good deeds daily. 

are different, unique and accepting folks who Welcome All. 

we come together, as ordinary and extraordinary lay people to BE CHURCH!

 FAQs

Have questions? We’re here to help.

  • Epworth UMC is affiliated with the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Epworth represents an urban/city church presence, in the River Bluffs District, under the supervision of District Superintendent Michelle Hargrave.

    Our congregation is connected. We are a Reconciling Ministry - this means we are committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and justice. We are active with United Women in Faith… We are represented through Minnesota Builders East and also the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation. There are also members of our congregation that are associated with Earthkeepers and Interfaith Power and Light.

  • When you need to get out of your apartment, condo or house; when you need to speak with others, when you need to think beyond yourself and find spiritual encouragement – you should attend this church.

    Epworth is different in that it allows you to nurture your faith in a fellowship of peers. As a unique, lay led congregation, we Epworth folk lead ourselves (be it worship, book study, garden and landscaping tasks…) without paying a clergy person. We are small and mighty, courageous and gutsy – that’s why we’re special.

  • At Epworth, there is a complete leadership council with all the right positions designated through the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. We are a spiritual body, with a real-time and relevant focus, that is determined by the spiritual needs of the community inside and outside the building.

  • Yes. With assistance from retired clergy and additional resources - we provide prayers, weddings, funerals, baptisms, communion, small groups, potlucks – for all. All people, no matter what or who. (We also have a full-service coffee bar that provides great coffee with cream and sugar as well!)

  • No. Epworth UMC is a community where everyone is welcome. You do not need to be religious or United Methodist or active in the church to participate in worship or other activities. Rental space at Epworth is open as well – but needs to be approved by the working council. And if perhaps, you just want to learn to make pasties … come on over, all are welcome.

  • Yes, absolutely – don’t we all? We encourage and explore questions about God in 1:1 conversations, in worship and in small groups. Sometimes, the more questions you have - the closer you are to God. Does anyone really, have it all figured out? Everyone is discovering and exploring faith at different places and paces. You don’t have to do it alone.

  • Epworth is a small urban church tucked into a lively neighborhood of Minneapolis. Our address lies in the consequential Third Precinct, near the original Seven Oaks of the Longfellow neighborhood and specifically located at the intersection of East 32nd Street and 37th Avenue South.

  • Worship is in person and available online if you cannot make it in person. Worship is impactful, relevant and unique. Worship involves prayers, hymns and songs, a special message and sometimes communion.

    There is no dress code, come as you are - just be prepared to meet a hodge podge of folks who will welcome you, likely ask your name and perhaps invite you to coffee and treats afterwards.

  • Our church has always been called “Epworth”. Epworth was the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism, back in England. So, Epworth is a birthplace of common people, youthful – young at heart – jovial and who follow Jesus in a methodical way.

  • Yes, Epworth is a pasty church. Folks at Epworth build pasties twice a year - in the fall and in the late winter/early spring. A pasty is a large pastry, filled (often, but not always) with potato, onion, carrot, rutabaga and ground beef (we do offer vegetarian and gluten free options too). Crafting pasties helps the church budget, which fosters mission and outreach. They are a meal, they are tasty and are built from scratch (and you can assist too!)

    Check out the blog from Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace that shares a little more about Epworth’s pasties.